Nalox-Comm: Naloxone Communication Training for Pharmacists

Overview

This is a pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) in which 120 pharmacists will be randomized to an experimental or control group and data on naloxone dispensing and secondary outcomes will be collected over the course of the RCT.

Full Title of Study: “Addressing the Opioid Epidemic Through Community Pharmacy Engagement: Randomized Controlled Trial (Aim 2)”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
    • Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: July 31, 2023

Detailed Description

This is a prospective pilot RCT that will evaluate the impact of naloxone communication training (Nalox-Comm) on 120 pharmacists' naloxone dispensing behaviors (primary outcome). Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after training is completed, and at 3-month follow up. Data sources include pharmacy records (for naloxone dispensing), simulated patient observations (to rate quality of communication), and survey data (for self-reports of knowledge and self-efficacy).

Interventions

  • Behavioral: Nalox-comm Training Module
    • The online communication module will be 30-60 minutes. Content will include: 1) using non-judgmental language, 2) how to raise the topic of overdose (OD) and naloxone with patients in a non-threatening manner; 3) videos modeling how to initiate the conversation with patients and caregivers; 4) considerations in how to communicate differently with patients versus caregivers; and 5) addressing pharmacists’ perceived barriers to naloxone counseling. Pharmacists can receive continuing education credit (0.1 CEU) for completing the course.
  • Behavioral: Prescribe to Prevent: Overdose Prevention and Naloxone Rescue Kits for Prescribers and Pharmacists
    • A 55 minute long online module with videos, didactic content, and quizzes that covers the following topics: risk factors for overdose (OD), how to respond to OD, how naloxone works, types of naloxone, how to administer naloxone, medico-legal issues, how to bill for naloxone, and strategies to address overdose. Pharmacists can receive continuing education credit (0.125 CEUs) for completing the course.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Placebo Comparator: Prescribe to Prevent Naloxone Training Module
    • This a 55-minute online module that covers basic information about naloxone that is relevant to community pharmacists.
  • Experimental: Nalox-Comm
    • This is a newly developed 30-60 minute online module focused on teaching pharmacists how to overcome naloxone communication barriers.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Change in the number of times Naloxone is dispensed over a 6 month period
    • Time Frame: 3-month period before and 3-month period after pharmacist completes intervention training
    • Pharmacy records will indicate the number of times each pharmacy dispensed naloxone over the RCT period. These data will be aggregated into the total number of naloxone fills in the 3 months pre-intervention and the 3 months postintervention.

Secondary Measures

  • Change from Baseline in Willingness to Dispense Naloxone Score at 3 months
    • Time Frame: Baseline, 3-months post-intervention
    • An online survey including 6 self-reported Likert-scale items will assess pharmacists’ willingness to dispense naloxone. Four items from the Nielsen naloxone attitudes scale and 2 items from the Wilson Hospital-based Overdose Prevention and Education (HOPE) measure will be used. These items assess pharmacists’ willingness to engage in naloxone counseling activities, including educating patients to recognize overdose and administer naloxone, proactively identify individuals for naloxone dispensation, and dispense naloxone. Response options will range from 1= “not at all willing” to 4= “very willing.” Items will be averaged to create a mean willingness score (range = 1-4), with higher scores indicating more willingness to dispense naloxone. Mean willingness scores will be calculated at baseline and 3 months post-intervention.
  • Change from Baseline in Naloxone Counselling Self-Efficacy Score at 3 months
    • Time Frame: Baseline, 3-months post-intervention
    • An online survey including 6 self-reported Likert-scale items will assess pharmacists’ self-efficacy to counsel about naloxone. Four items from the Nielsen naloxone attitudes scale and 2 items from the Wilson HOPE measure will be used. Pharmacists will be asked to rate their confidence to engage in various naloxone communication tasks including: engage in naloxone counseling when the pharmacy is busy and discuss naloxone in a way that does not offend customers. Response options will range from 1= “not at all confident” to 4= “very confident.” Items will be averaged to create a mean self-efficacy score (range = 1-4), with higher scores indicating greater self-efficacy to dispense naloxone. Mean self-efficacy scores will be calculated at baseline and 3 months post-intervention.
  • Change from Baseline in Pharmacist Quality of Non-verbal Communication score up to 1 month post-training
    • Time Frame: Baseline, 1-month period after pharmacist completes intervention training
    • Simulated patients (SPs) will call pharmacists and use a validated observation guide that has been adapted for use for telephone interactions to rate the pharmacists’ quality of non-verbal communication. The guide includes 4 items (i.e., explained things clearly, listened carefully, showed respect, and spent enough time with the SP) measured on a 5-point scale (1= not at all satisfied, 2= partly satisfied, 3= satisfied, 4= more than satisfied, 5= very satisfied). Higher scores (range = 1-5) indicate a more positive evaluation of the interaction.

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • currently work at a pharmacy that stocks naloxone; – currently work at a rural community pharmacy; – are at least 18 years of age; and – speak English. Exclusion Criteria:

  • Non-staff pharmacists such as pharmacy "floaters" or fill-in pharmacists will not be eligible to participate.

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: 99 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Collaborator
    • National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Sponsor
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Delesha Carpenter, PhD, MSPH, Principal Investigator, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy

References

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